The Firm

PBFL&K is located in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Each of its five founding partners were previously partners at the long-standing Seattle litigation firm, Lee Smart Cook Martin & Patterson. Founding principals Michael Patterson, Patricia Buchanan, Duncan Fobes, Charles Leitch, and Karen Kalzer collectively departed Lee Smart, with a select group of associates, to form PBFL&K in June 2007. The founding principals formed PBFL&K for the purposes of better serving their existing clients, and establishing one of the premier public entity and litigation defense firms in the State of Washington.

PBFL&K opened its doors in June 2007 with a staff of twenty-two. Since then, the firm has nearly tripled in size. We are proud to have hired several highly credentialed associate attorneys with diverse backgrounds. Our attorneys have clerked for state and federal judges, and have worked for insurance companies and corporations. Regardless of their backgrounds, however, our attorneys all share a firm commitment to client service and aggressive advocacy.

PBFL&K moved to its current location in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle in June 2008 where the firm continues to specialize in defending municipal, business and religious entities in all manner of litigation. We also maintain general counsel, transactional, and administrative/regulatory practices. In addition, when consistent with our mission statement, we accept plaintiffs' cases on a contingency basis.